EC Conducts Special Voting in Eastern and Western Regions

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana is conducting a special voting exercise today, December 5, 2024, in the Eastern and Western regions as part of preparations for the December 7 general elections. This follows the rescheduling of the exercise, initially planned for December 2, due to issues surrounding the integrity of ballot papers.

The decision to postpone was made during an emergency Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on December 1, after a defaced ballot paper meant for destruction was found outside the Checkpoint Printing House. Although there were no reported issues with the Western Region’s ballot papers, the EC decided to recall and reprint ballots for both regions as a precautionary measure, given that the same printing house was responsible for both.

The reprinted materials were delivered on December 4, ensuring readiness for the special voting exercise. EC Chairperson Jean Mensa assured stakeholders that all necessary steps had been taken to maintain the process’s integrity and transparency. The special voting exercise, previously conducted in 14 regions on December 2, allows groups such as election officials, security personnel, and media practitioners to vote ahead of election day.

Voting is taking place from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and only those listed in the Special Voters Register are eligible to participate. The EC is utilizing biometric verification systems to ensure accuracy and transparency. Votes cast during the exercise will be sealed and securely transported to the respective EC offices, where they will remain under strict security until counting begins on December 7.

The EC has urged all participants to adhere to the guidelines and maintain peace throughout the process. The successful conduct of this special voting exercise is expected to reinforce public confidence in the upcoming elections.